“Gore’s strategy is to work side by side with premium wintersports brands to bring the latest technology to wintersport devotees,” said Graham. “Skiers and riders who like to play in the snow should be warm and comfortable in whatever Mother Nature has to offer. We are delighted that our list of strategic manufacturing partners has grown for the coming 2003-04 winter season,” Graham continued.

As part of its commitment to product leadership in the snowsport arena, Gore seeks to deliver the best in comfort and protection technology by collaborating with the nation’s leading ski and snowboard apparel designers, and placing over 25 years of GORE-TEX(r) brand research, product development and testing at their disposal.

“We find that informed skiers and riders continually seek new materials that enable them to stay outside longer and to be more comfortable in a wider range of weather,” says Graham. “Along with our existing snowsports manufacturers, these nine new customers have made a collective effort to offer the consumer an unparalleled level of quality winter apparel that is highly technical, great looking and incorporates functional features that enhance the skiing/riding experience.”

The collection of apparel and accessories available to retailers for the upcoming buying season using Gore technologies is the largest to date since Gore entered the snowsports category.

Perhaps best known for its consumer products like GORE-TEX? fabric, GLIDE? dental floss and ELIXIR? guitar strings, Gore is a leading manufacturer of thousands of advanced technology products for the electronics, industrial, fabrics and medical markets. The company is headquartered in Newark, Delaware, and employs approximately 6000 associates in 45 facilities throughout the world. For more information about W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. and GORE? products, call 1-800-431-GORE or visit the Gore web site at www.gore-tex.com.